Mechanical miner having boring arms which form a rectangular shaped bore



March 4, 1958 B. w. AHLsoN 2,825,544

MECHANICAL MINER HAVINGBORING ARMS WHICH FORM A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BORE Filed Nov. 16. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 `\IN V EN TOR.

BY Burton W Ahlson ATTORNEY March 4, 1958 B. w. AHLsoN 2,825,544

MECHANICAL MINER HAVING BORING ARMs WHICH FORM A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BORE Filed Nov. 16. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

March 4, 1958 B. w. AHLsoN 2,825,544

- MECHANICAL MINER HAVING BORING ARMS WHICH FORM A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BORE Filed Nov. 16. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 29 27 l A 3f .AA d 29 I" p \24 22X y 78 I 33 Il n T 34 Y /O y Fig 3 INVENTOR.

Burien W hlson AHLSON AVING BORING ARMS WHIC March 4, 1958 B, w. MECHANICAL MINER H BORE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FORM A RECTANGULAR SHAPED Filed Nov. 16. 1954 n g 5 H INVENTOR. Burien W, Ahlson WQ @femm Arrow/5y United States Patent MECHANICAL MINER HAVING BORING ARMS llVggH FORM A RECTANGULAR SHAPED Burton W. Ahlson, Flossmoor, Ill., assigner to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 16, 1954, Serial No. 469,237

This invention relates particularly to mining machines of the type having a pair of rotating boring arms for cutting coal or other mineral from the solid seam thereof, and relates to improvements in such machines whereby the arms can cut a bore of substantially parallelogram shaped cross-section in a seam of material.

ln the machines of the prior art employing a pair of boring arms which cut overlapping contiguous bores there have been provided upper and lower cutter chains and their guides have been provided with sprockets movable into position whereby the action of the cutter chains trained about such sprockets and their guides is such that a substantially rectangular shaped bore may be cut in the seam.

According to the present invention it is not necessary to employ such upper and lower guided chains and movable sprockets therefor since the action of the boring arms in the machine embodying the improvements herein is such that a rectangular shaped bore is made in the seam by means of the boring arms alone. In forming the bore, the boring arms move rotatably in a path such that the projection of each of the boring arms on a plane normal to its turning center is substantially in the form of a square. The boring arms are arranged to pivot with respect to the longitudinal axis of a boring shaft upon which the boring arm is mounted, and as the boring arm rotates with the shaft the end of the boring arm remote from the boring shaft follows a path of such a configuration that its projection on the aforesaid plane is substantially in the form of a square.

The aforesaid movement to the boring arm is achieved by a three dimensional cam, generally in the form of a crown having a contour such that when the boring arm follows the cam the arm will move in the fashion previously described.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved type of miner of the multi-bore type, characterized by the absence of any formation of upper and lower cusps and characterized in its construction by boring arms each of which cuts a square shaped bore contiguous to a similar bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cam having three dimensions such that a rotating boring arm may follow the cam whereby the periphery described by the rotating boring arm has a projection on a plane normal to the center of rotation of the boring arm in the form of a square.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the speciiication following taken with the drawings, which together show a preferredembodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be suggested to those having the benet of the teachings herein, and it is therefore intended that the Scope of the invention not be limited by the precise embodiment herein shown, such other embodiments being intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and purview of the ciaims subjoined.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the boring head. of a continuous miner having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows certain parts being shown in side elevation illustrating one of the boring arms in its rotation on its boring shaft, and showing a cam mechanism whereby the periphery of the boring arm is caused to describe a square on a projection plane normal to the axis of the boring shaft;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 certain parts being shown in side elevation, and iliustrating the position of the other of the boring arms shown in Fig. 1 with reference to the cam mechanism for causing the boring arm to have a peripheral path describing a square on a projection plane thereof normal to the boring shaft axis; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the boring arms taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a View looking in the direction of a seam in which the mining machine according to the present invention has operated, illustrating the action of the cutting elements mounted upon the boring arms shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive; and

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating how the boring arms may be moved to a position whereby the machine may be retracted from the seam in which it operates.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a mining machine indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein. The general construction of such a machine may be that shown in an application of Frank Cartlidge, Ser. No. 398,953, tiled December 18, 1953, now Patent No. 2,757,917, for Improvements in Mining Machines. Machines of the general type referred to in the aforesaid Cartlidge application are provided with a drive housing 11 having extending therefrom a main pusher plate 12 and an auxiliary pusher plate 13 movable with respect to the main pusher plate in a horizontal direction. Means for moving the auxiliary pusher plate may be that as more speciiically shown in an application of Ralph Risse, Ser. No. 456,953, led September 20, 1954, now Patent No. 2,801,836, for Improvements in Mechanical Miner.

The machine lil has a throat 14 for the transfer of dislodged material on to an endless conveyor 16 extending longitudinally thereof.

The machine 10 includes a pair of spaced boring shafts 17 as seen more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. Each of the boring shafts 17 extend through an annular boss 18 formed in a forward wall 19 of the drive housing 11, the boring shafts 17 each being supported in a bearing 21 held in the annular boss 18.

The end of the shafts 17 protruding beyond the boss 18 is provided with a support hub 22 which is fast to shaft 17, the support hub 22 being formed integrally with a spiral bit 23 for cutting a pilot bore 24 in a seam of coal 26 or the like.

The hub 22 has extending therefrom a boring' arm indicated generally by the reference numeral 27. Said boring arm is arranged to move pivotally with respect to the hub 22 upon a pin 28, and is arranged to follow a path as will be described whilst rotating with the boring shaft 17. Y

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the boring arm 27 is pro-l throat 14, as seen inFig. 1-.

Y Vposition seen in Fig. 6

advanceofthe boring arms,

' yided apldrality' of cutting elements @thereon so arrangedas tocut a plurality of kerfs31r ortho like` inVY Y' Ythe seam of coal'26, the cutter elements being Yprovided with suitable surfaces 32 for'wedging od the cores formed VThe boring'arm 27V which ispivotally'm'ounted .upon the pin2`8 to theihub'32 is forced against a three dimer.- sional 'camfre'ferred to generally by. the reference numei-e136.V .A's' seen inFigs;` 2,3 and 4, the Ycam 36 is. f

generally of i a crownacontguration.

substantially of a squareas seenvin Fig. 5.

As seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the boringarm 27Y has a Vcam follower or extension 37-therefrom supporting a pair of Vfree turning rollers 3S ywhich Vfollowa guideway 39 formed in the cam 36.7Y As seen in Fig-4, the extension peripherally in its rotation.`Y As seen in Fig.;2, the cam follower 37 and the rollers 38of the boring arm 27V are at ,a` low point 42 Vupon the cam 36, at which Vpoint the' point E of the boring arm 27 is describing its longestV The Vlocus of all points` upon the` cam 36.issuch'that'theprojeetionof i all the points E upon the boring arm Y27 on a planenormal to an axis A`AV of the boring shaft i7A is in the form Y Yarm extending `from *each path on a plane normal `to the Vaxisgofjeachk boringwshaft,

. boring shaftsin their rotationgtherew'ith, and means 37 is ata lobe 41 of the cam 36, a point where the point Y E of the boring arm 27 is describing its shortest travel dimension Aof travel, the projection of the Vpoint E upon theVV plane normal tothe axis A-A at all times describ-V ing locusV of points on the boundaries of a square.

- YIn order that theboring `arm 27 may swivelwith re'V spect to theY hub 22 Yin following the undulations of the Y cam 36, the support hub'22 has ai stub vextension 43'. The boringarm V2.7 has a hub 4fik lined withV a bushing I 46 surrounding the stub Yshaft extension 43.VV `Bysuch a construction the boring arm v27may swivelabout the stub Y shaft 43 in following theY contours of'thevthree dimensional cam36.V

The boring Yarm 27 is provided with Yaiplovv plate V47V mounted near the end thereof, Vthe action of the plow plate 47 being such as to sweep the cuttings at the bottom of rotation of each arm 27 in a direction towards the The arms 27 have certain amount of overlap sogas lto describe substantially arectangular shaped bore within Y the Vseam 26. The face of the seam appears as seenin Y boring arms, said cams and saidhca'm followers causing` said boring Varms to shift their angular Vposition withref- Fig. VSjafter the operation of the two boring arms, the,

Lboring arms leaving the traces shown, with. Vthe ribs 3i Referringagain to Fig. lof the drawings, the lateralY between each of the kerfs 29. Y

dimensions ofthe machine are such that theV room in which the machine 10 operates can be timbrered in accordance with the width'of the machineandrroorf props 48 may be disposed in position on each sidevof the machine to Ysupportroof beams 49. If it is'desiredvto retract the machine from 'the room which has been cut by the-operation of the machine ltl'the side 'pusher-plates 13 can Ybe retractedas disclosed in, the aforesaid Risse application and the two boringY arms 27'Vmoved` tothe Y clearing the roof beam 4,9.-A

It isthus beiieved Vevident that'the machine to the present invention 1s capable of cutting a substan-4 Vmounted on said cutterbit supports for YbreakingolftheY lcoresY formed between the cutter bits.'V

boring shafts andV arranged' to 'receive cuttingsfresulting from the operation of said boring arms, eachxof-gsaid, 7 boring arms having cutter bit'supportsspacedlalong theV Y length 'thereof and extending Y, therefrom,f-cutter Vbits mounted on said supports, the 'improvement which com'- f Y, prises in` combination with said boring arms of means forV causing the end of eachof'sadboring armsY to describeY V in itsrrotation a substantially'rectangular,shapedpath on a planenormal to Vthe axis of .each boringrshaft, said'means.

comprising pivot means pivotallyY connecting'each boring arm to the associated boring Vshaft for swivelin'gfmovernent of each boring arm in aplane passingfthrough; the Ylongi- Y tudinal axis of Vthe associated'boring shaft, a threerdimen.-

sional cam for each 'of said boring armsmounted'ron said f boring Vhead and a cam follower mounted onl each of said spect to said associated boring shafts in their rotation. therewith.

3. In a boring Vtype miner, .ai boringV head'having'fa'vv plurality of (boring shafts extending therefrom, a boring.Y arm extending from each of said boring'shafts,said boring' shafts and their associated boring ,arms rotatingintimed relationship, va cuttings 'conveyor disposed'between said boring shafts and arrangedh'to receivedtheeuttings re-V sulting kfrom the operation of said Yboringrarms, each of said boringarms having cutter bit supportsV spaced.v along the length vthereof and extending therefrom, cutter.; bits according tially rectangular shaped'bore within a Yseam of coalfor of cutter chains followingthe which cutter chains have been Ypreviously necessary inorder to removethe .upper the like .without the need and lower'cusps remammgfrom Vthe action of theo-boringVV arms.A i Y Y YWhile the preferred; embodiment its scope isV intended to Vbe limited only by the terms of the .claims here appended.

Iclaim asmyinvention: .Y Y s y ,1.'Infa boring type miner, Va boringhead having a l plurality of boringlshafts extending therefrom, boring invention has been deescribed in'terms of` af mountedY on said supports, ,meansl for ycausing thegends f of eachof `saidboring varms to describe in itsrotation Aa: substantially square shaped path lona plane normal'to the i axis of each boring shaft, said meanscomprising aipivotaln means pivotally connecting leach'of Vsaidboring Varmste the associateclboring shaft for swiveling movementpf the boring arms in a plane passingV through the flonrgi-Y tudinal axis ofthe associated' boring shaft, a' three di( Y mensional cam foreach of said boring arms mountedon Y said boring head and Varcam follower mounted .onveachf- Vof said boring arms,'said cams and cam followers causingVV Y each of said-boring arms to be Yurged in said swiveling movement and pivotallyshift their angularpositionA relalV tive tothe boring shafts during the rotation thereof, means mounted on said'boring arms for breaking olf Vthe cores formed between'said cutterbits, and means mountedon I said boring arms for diverting cuttings towardV said cut-V.

' tings conveyor.r v Y .1. u 1 4. In a' boring-type miner, a'boring head VhavingjaV therefrom, "a vboring arm extending from each of said boring shafts, lsaid boring plurality of boring shafts` extending of said boring shafts,- pivot means pivotallyconnectingeach ofsaidsboring arms to the respective boring shafts for swivelingmovement off Vsaid boring arms in a plane passing through the .longi-YV Vtudinalaxis of the. respective boring shaftf said .boringYY shafts andtheir associatedboringarms rotating in timed relationship, each of said V boringarms having-,cutterV bit-Y supports spaced alongv thelengththereof ,and extendingV therefromycutterfbits mounted onl said supports,V means Y for causing the end of Veach of said 'boring ,armstode-Y scribe inV its rotation a'jsubstantially rectangular Yshaped shafts and their associated boring arms rotating in timed relationship, a cuttings conveyor disposed between said boring shafts and arranged to receive cuttings resulting from the operation of said boring arms, each of said boring arms having cutter bit supports spaced along the length thereof, cutter bits mounted on said cutter bit supports, the improvement comprising in combination with said boring arms of a means for causing the end of each boring arm to describe in its rotation a substantially rectangular shaped path in a plane normal to the axis of each boring shaft, said means comprising a pivot means pivotally connecting each of said boring arms to the respective boring shaftffor swiveling movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the respective References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,985 Hurd Mar. 24, 1896 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,059 Germany May 2, 1908 382,954 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1932 

